Known around the world for his innovative leadership in health care, Victor Dzau, MD, will be given an Honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Cincinnati at Spring Commencement on May 2.

An honorary doctorate is UC's most prestigious award. The special recognition will be bestowed upon Dzau and three other esteemed recipients during Commencement events held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena. The tradition-rich celebration will be held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena, and it includes multiple ceremonies: the Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 1, and Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies (bachelor and associate degrees) will be presented at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 2.

Dzau is the eighth president of the Institute of Medicine, Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Professor of Medicine at Duke University and past president and CEO of the Duke University Health System.

Previously, Dzau was the Hersey Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine and Chairman of Medicine at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as well as chairman of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University.

Dzau has made a significant impact on medicine through his seminal research in cardiovascular medicine and genetics and his leadership in health care innovation. His work on the renin angiotensin system (RAS) paved the way for the contemporary understanding of RAS in cardiovascular disease and the development of RAS inhibitors as widely used, lifesaving drugs. In his role as a leader in health care, Dzau has led efforts in innovation to improve health, including the development of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute, the Duke Global Health Institute, the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School and the Duke Institute for Health Innovation.

As one of the world’s pre-eminent health leaders, Dzau advises governments, corporations and universities worldwide. He has served as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and as Chair of the NIH Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee. Currently he is a member of the Board of the Singapore Health System and Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. He was on the Board of Health Governors of the World Economic Forum and chaired its Global Agenda Council on Personalized and Precision Medicine.

Among his many honors and recognitions are the Gustav Nylin Medal from the Swedish Royal College of Medicine, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association, Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Henry Freisen International Prize. In 2014, he received the Public Service Medal from the President of Singapore. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He has received six honorary doctorates.